Here are my picks for the top gifts any product developer would love to receive

This is my annual 'Product Developer's Wish List', consisting of the products and development tools and product developer would love to have.

1. Camtasia Studio - Of all the product development tools I have, Camtasia Studio is the one that I use most often, to create the most products.

   I used Camtasia to create most of the content of my 5 most recent training DVDs (sold on Amazon). And I used Camtasia to create the more than 125 videos I have uploaded to YouTube. And I used Camtasia to create the more 250 short training videos uploaded to the various web sites I manage.

   If I had to choose only one product development tool to build a business with, Camtasia would be it.

   Find it at http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp for $299.00
   
   

2. Plantronics USB Microphone Headset - To produce training videos with Camtasia, you'll need a microphone connected to your computer so you can do voice narration as you create your videos.

   To get the best results when recording audio through your computer, you want to capture the audio via your computer's USB port, and never through the audio-card's microphone in port.

   There are several good choices for USB headset microphones, include the Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset , but I prefer the Plantronics line of DSP noise cancelling USB headsets like the Plantronics AUDIO 750 DSP Premium Headset.

   These are comfortable to wear, produce very clean audio, and work perfectly with Camtasia.

   If you need a USB headset you can travel with, try the Plantronics Foldable USB Stereo Headset (Optimized for Laptop Use) (Audio 470 USB).
   
   

3. Canon HV30 Camcorder - if you want to add live video to your Camtasia productions, or just want a great camcorder to use to shoot 'how to' videos or even home movies, the best buy for the money is clearly the Canon VIXIA HV30 MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

   This Canon camcorder has all the 'must have' features including HD and SD options, an external microphone jack, ability to choose 30i,30p, 25p shooting modes, recording to miniDV tape, firewire out, ability to record direct to computer, outstanding Canon lens optics, and a price under $600.

   I have two of these Canon HV30 camcorders in my video studio, and use them to replace camcorders costing 10 times as much.
   
   

4. Cool Flo Light Kit - if you shoot video to create products like DVDs, you'll probably want a light kit for your videos.

   Having used several different kinds of professional light kits for the various video productions I've been involved in, I would recommend you choose a 'Cool Flo' lighting system using florescent lights.

   These cool lights can give you Hollywood quality lighting, but without the heat problems quartz and incandescent lights create.

   You can run these cool lights for hours, and your studio won't heat up, your talent and crew remain cool, and their is no risk of fires or burns.

   A good selection of affordable Cool Flo lighting kits can be found at Steve Kaeser Photographic Lighting and Accessories

   The cool light kit I use in my videos is the Steve Kaeser 2400 WATT PRO DIGITAL COOL FLO LIGHT KIT. Priced at under $300 it is a real bargain.
   
   

5. Studio quality wired Lavalier microphone - if you are producing training videos using your camcorder, you'll definitely want to use an external microphone to capture the audio.

   While you can get decent results with less expensive wired lavaliere microphones like the Audio-Technica ATR-35S Lavalier Microphone, you'll get much better quality if you use a professional studio microphone like the Sony ECM 66B Microphone.

   I use the Sony ECM 66B Microphone connected to my Canon Camcorder (using the BPR-1 listed below), and the results are amazing. Not only is the quality extremely high, but because the Sony ECM-66B is a uni-directional microphone, unwanted external noises are not recorded.

   This means I can record in my studio or on the street even when there is traffic or construction noise. Thats because the uni-directional mike only records a narrow pattern - so sounds to the side and behind the microphone are ignored.

   Note that because the Sony ECM 66B connects using an XLR connection, you must use an adapter to connect to any camcorder that does not have an XLR connection (including the Canon HV30). See the next item on this list to find the adapter I use.
   
   

6. Studio 1 XLR BP converter - this is the box I use to connect XLR microphones to camcorders without XLR adapters.

   You can connect up to 2 XLR microphones to the XLR BP converter box and send the output to the microphone input on your camcorder.

   This means you can use professional quality studio microphones - most of which will have XLR connectors - and connect them to your camcorder.

   Find the Studio 1 XLR BP converter at http://www.studio1productions.com/xlr-bp_pro.htm for under $180.
   
   

7. Fasttrack XLR to USB converter - if you invest in a high end microphone like the Sony ECM 66B mentioned above, it would be nice to be able to use that microphone with your computer - like when narrating your Camtasia videos.

   The good news is you can use your XLR microphones - if you have a M-Audio Fast Track USB Audio Interface XLR to USB converter connected to your computer, as I do.

   With the M-Audio Fast Track USB Audio Interface , you connect your XLR microphone to the Fast Track interface, which connects to your USB port.

   As soon as you do this, your XLR microphone becomes available as microphone for all your computer software (including Camtasia).
   
   

8. Video Editing / DVD Authoring Software - Once you have a camcorder and microphone, you'll probably want a video editing and DVD authoring software package so you can convert your raw videos into productions for uploading to YouTube or placing on DVD.

   The software I use to do this is Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9, which is the 'home' version of the much more expensive Sony Vegas Pro.

   With Sony Movie Studio Platinum you get almost all the features of Sony Vegas Pro and DVD Architect, at 1/6 of the price (under $70). You'll be able to do multitrack video and audio editing, include special effects like Chromakey, add titles, background music, animations, and more. And you'll be able to burn the results to a menu driven DVD.
   
   

9. Bose Computer Speakers - if you are recording and editing video with audio, you owe it to yourself to have quality speakers attached to your computer, so you can actually hear the audio quality (or lack of it) in your recordings.

   The speakers I use and recommend are the Bose Companion 2 Multimedia Speakers, which give you the famed Bose quality, without the typical high Bose price.

   These speakers cost under $80, yet produce a very clear and very realistic sound - which helps you find and eliminate potential problems during your audio and video editing process.
   
   

10. Camcorder Tripod - if you have a camcorder, you are going to want a tripod - especially if you are producing training videos. The one I recommend and use myself is the Slik Pro 500DX Super Alloy A.M.T. Tripod.

    The Slik Pro 500 is a heavy duty tripod, suitable for use in your studio or out in the wild, and is extremely sturdy and capable of keeping your camcorder steady not matter what conditions you might be working in.

    It is designed to last (I've had mine for more than 10 years), be easy to set up, and portable enough to haul with you when need be. And it's pretty affordable at under $140.

    Find one at http://www.adorama.com/SLP500DX.html
    
    

11. Azden Wireless Microphone Kit - if you are shooting video and need a wireless microphone system, and don't want to spend thousands, I'd recommend the Azden WLX Pro Wireless Mic System.

    The Azden WLX Pro Wireless Mic System includes a wireless microphone transmitter, a wireless microphone receiver, a lavaliere microphone and a handheld microphone.

    The system is designed to be portable and to connect to your camcorder's hot-shoe attachment. The microphone and receiver are both powered with 9 volt batteries, which provide several hours of recording time per battery.

    In my tests (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYlhDGrw_eA), the wireless microphones worked surprisingly well, especially considering their small cost. Testing both indoors and out, I was able to get good quality at distances up to 50 feet (line of sight).
    
    

12. Logitech Trackman Wheel mouse - if you spend a lot of time on your computer, you might be familiar with 'mouse elbow' or 'mouse wrist' - conditions which are caused by heavy mouse use.

    To avoid these ailments, I use a Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical Mouse, which requires no wrist or elbow movement to move the mouse.

    The Logitech Trackman Wheel Optical is a large 'trackball' mouse, which is controlled by movement of your thumb over the trackball.

    Easy to master, and a great way to avoid getting the dreaded 'mouse elbow'.
    
    

13. Ultra Portable Computer - When I'm on the road, away from the office, I want an ultra portable computer with the power to run all my software, all day battery life, yet small enough that I don't mind carrying it with me.

    For my purposes, the ASUS Eee PC 1000HA 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel ATOM N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, XP Home, 6 Cell Battery) Pearl White is the perfect device.

    Not only does it come with Windows XP pre-installed, it has a 6 hour battery life, a 160 gig hard drive, wifi, 3 USB ports, web cam, weighs less the 3 pounds, and has a 10" screen and 10" keyboard, and costs under $450.

    By connecting a USB cell data card (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CCAwEbdsdw), I can connect to the internet anywhere, anytime, and have full computer power in a book sized computer.
    
    

14. Desktop Computer - if you do much video editing, you're going to want the fastest most powerful computer you can get. The good news is that computers today are faster, more powerful, and less expensive than ever before.

    The bad news - Windows Vista is pre-installed on most Windows computers, and it is a real memory hog, and not as reliable as the older Windows XP.

    Still, with just a little searching you can find Windows XP on a new computer, and have a smoking fast system which can render video files 4 to 10 times faster than your current system.

    Here are the specs of my 'dream' desktop system (which I recently purchased).

    2.5ghz quad core Intel processor
    4 gig of Ram (expandable to 16 gig)
    Nvidia video card with 512meg Ram, with DVI and svideo out
    500 Gig SATA 7200 Hard Drive
    DVD writer
    4 USB ports
    2 firewire ports
    Windows XP Pro
    

    Priced configured as above (without monitor) as of 12/08/2008 - under $750.
    
    

15. Transportation - so you need a way to travel, and avoid all the hassles of the airports and roads? Here's is something for your consideration - a luxury sea going catamaran.

    It'd be a great place for your 'getaway from it all office'.

    Make mine blue and white please.